Benefits of Honey

Raw honey has many health benefits including:

- Possesses antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal benefits

- Accelerates wound healing

- Can help relieve insomnia

- Can be used to soothe burns/sunburns, cuts, or blemishes

- Soothes sore throats 

- Coats and may reverse ulcers

- Rich with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes & other nutrients

- Promotes healthy digestion 

- Calms nerves

- Stimulates immune function

- Reduces inflammation

- Can help balance blood pressure levels

- Fights respiratory infections

- Can help relieve asthma or bronchitis

- Is easily converted into glucose

- Boosts endurance and muscle recovery in the body and used for energy

 

Honey is known for its variety of health benefits and medicinal uses. It’s even used in some hospitals as a treatment for wounds. Many of these health benefits are specific to raw, unpasteurized honey. Most of the honey you find in grocery stores is pasteurized, which uses high heat to improve the color and texture of the honey and also to remove crystallization. However, many of the beneficial nutrients are also destroyed in the process.  Therefore, raw honey is recommended for its high nutrients and health benefits to the body.  Raw unfiltered honey has medicinal properties that support human health and well-being and can be used both internally and externally. 

High in Antioxidants

Raw honey provides a wide variety of natural antioxidants to the diet. According to a study published in "Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry" in 2011, researchers from the University of Vienna tested the flavonoid content of different varieties of honey. Raw honey types like orange blossom honey contains quercetin, hesperitin, luteolin, kaempferol, galangin, naringenin and isorhamnetin -- antioxidants with anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, anti-cancer and immune supporting effects in the body. The antioxidants in raw honey may help to protect against free radical damage and reduce your risk of chronic illnesses.

Good Source of Minerals

Raw honey may be a good source of trace minerals to support nutrition in humans. In a nutritional analysis published in "Talanta" in 2005, researchers from the University of Seville tested raw honey for its mineral content. Zinc, boron, manganese, magnesium, calcium, selenium, copper, potassium and sodium were all found in honey like orange blossom honey; however, their levels varied greatly depending on the geographical location from where the honey was gathered.

Anti-Bacterial Effects

In an article published in "Anaerobe" in 2011, Greek researchers tested the effects of several different types of honey on bacterial cultures in the laboratory. Raw honeyshowed significant antibacterial properties against a range of pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica and otheres. Preparations using raw honey as a natural antibacterial agent should include at least 20 percent honey, as this was deemed the minimum dilution required to inhibit bacteria. Researchers concluded that with more pathogens become antibiotic resistant, the need for other antibacterial agents like raw honey is growing.

Wound Healing Aid

All varieties of raw honey have wound-healing properties. In a review of research published in the French journal "Revue de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique" in 1993, researchers compared 40 different trials that tested the wound-healing capacities of honey. The authors concluded that honey was effective in supporting tissue healing in 88 percent of cases, and was a simple and safe treatment option for patients.

Go Raw

Raw unfiltered honey is safe and well-tolerated by the majority of the population. If you have a known allergy to bees then you should avoid honey products. According to Dr Michael Murray and Dr Joseph Pizzorno, authors of "The Encyclopaedia of Healing Foods," honey loses its medicinal value when pasteurized or clarified. For this reason, raw unfiltered honey is highly recommended for its natural health benefits and should not be heated or pasteurized. 

*Honey is not intended to replace medical care. Contact your doctor before using honey to treat a medical condition.